The Don’t Screen Us Out Campaign is a movement of people advocating in the UK against the government’s increased implementation of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). The government attempts to make it a national screening. NIPT, “is a method of determining the risk that the fetus will be born with certain genetic abnormalities” (Medline Plus).

As seen with an increase use of screening, there is a higher rate of termination of fetuses detected with having down syndrome. As seen how in, “2012 in England and Wales, 90 percent of 1,259 fetuses diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome were terminated”(AMA Journal Of Ethics Eugenics). This is also a trend seen with other European countries that are tending to higher rates of termination as a result of NIPT.

The issue is evident as this has encouraged the abortions of lots of potential citizens with down syndrome. This has an obvious impact on the down syndrome community that is trying to be eradicated and are not protected. The Don’t Screen Us Out Campaign displays that although their are policies in place such as Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) it isn’t giving information effectively. Parents are discouraged from raising a child with down syndrome since they lack awareness and resources. This leads to “enable the increased selective elimination of children with Down Syndrome due to a lack of proper inclusion, accommodation, and support, would violate disabled rights and our ethical obligations to disabled people and communities”(Don’t Screen Us Out).

Although there might not be direct suggestions for abortion, society paints an untrue view of the life of person with down syndrome. Often associated with a life of misery and of hinderance. As Frank put it, ” that view is deeply prejudice by an outdated idea of life with down syndrome”.

The issues of continuing such NIPT screening only increases a society/culture of ‘eugenic anti-disabled discrimination’. This selective choosing of only a certain type of person allows marginalized to increase in isolation. Even perhaps to extinction which although is what some may strive for, people forget that these are people. A community that wants to be acknowledged and supported not dissipate.

The goals of this campaign are to,

1. ” 1. Delay the implementation of cfDNA (NIPT) screening until the following medical reforms are affected:
2. Ensure that parents with a diagnosis of Down’s syndrome are provided with the balanced information and support…” (Don’t Screen Us Out).

These pursuits are in no way too far fetched, it is reasonable and will allow for more empathy and knowledge to be dispersed.

In this movement families and friends of people with down syndrome gather with signs of beautiful & cute claims such as “Love Doesn’t Count Chromosomes”,”Facts not Fear” & “There’s No Prenatal Test for Awesome”

I think this movement really incapsulates the love and need for support for this community. Often overlooked as such with marginalized groups, doesn’t mean their voices shouldn’t be heard. The size doesn’t discredit their valid points and if anything is a result of the detriment of things such as NIPT. Which proclaims to be a research resource toward down syndrome, when in reality it is hurting them. I hope the goals can be implemented effectively so that a new generation is more equipped to make more informed decisions. To have resources and support if they choose to have a baby with down syndrome rather than making it seem like there’s only one option available. At the end of the day, these are all human beings. Regardless if they don’t fit the medical model. They deserve the same rights as everyone else and should be given a fair chance at life.